I think you might be better off if you rephrased your sentence. "The optical illusion affects my perception of its real shape."
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Kit Z. Fox♦Dec 20 '12 at 2:00

4

Distorts would also fit. In fact, there is a verb "to illude" (it's actually the origin of the later "illusion"). OED definition 2 says To trick, impose upon, deceive with false hopes. So if OP doesn't mind being a bit "obscure/dated", he could just publish and be damned!
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FumbleFingersDec 20 '12 at 2:49

13

-1 for unwittingly illuding many into believing "illude does not exist".
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KrisDec 20 '12 at 5:52

1

There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened.
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KrisDec 22 '12 at 6:56

3

Does this question allude to the illusion that illude is an elision?
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Kaz DragonJan 24 '13 at 15:28

I don't think this word would apply to the O.P.'s context. To mesmerize means to entrance, and the O.P. is looking for a word that indicates something is visually not as it seems. Mesmerize seems much more mental than visual, and I'd say it connotes rapt attention more than illusion. It's still a cool word, though.
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J.R.Dec 20 '12 at 10:32

we try to consistently use italics for use–mention distinction. Quotes are used for longer phrases or entire sentences. However, in titles italics simply don't work, so we have to resort to quotes even if it's a single word. Also, within a blockquote it's okay to use bold to highlight a particular word. Do stay away from bold italics and code formatting.
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RegDwigнt♦Dec 20 '12 at 10:51